BarPilot

Lower Columbia River

Buoy 10 Fishing Plan

Updated Oct 11, 9:20 PM PDT

Sunday, October 18, 2026 fishing strategy

Base rotation

UPDATED

Astoria-Megler Bridge

Small exchange 5.4 ft

Daily center near RM 14.0

Opening move

Base the rotation around Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 14.0 for this 5.4 ft small exchange.

Fish it right

At Astoria-Megler Bridge, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight or boat speed so the presentation fishes cleanly...

Move with the tide

A 5.4 ft small exchange favors holding the Astoria-Megler Bridge area longer, moving upriver near high slack and lower again...

Wind: SSE at 3 mph, gusting 10 mph. Swell guidance is not available this far ahead. South wind can make the lower-river rotation less forgiving; shorten the run if conditions deteriorate. Updated Oct 11, 9:20 PM PDT

Move with the tide

Tide-stage plan

Times are Pacific local time.

5:00 AM - 7:18 AM

Flood (incoming)

RM 12.2

Gear

During 5:00 AM - 7:18 AM at Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 12.2; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 12.2.

Why this move

From 5:00 AM - 7:18 AM on the flood (incoming), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.2, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. This 5.4 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

7:18 AM - 8:48 AM

High slack

RM 16.0

Gear

During 7:18 AM - 8:48 AM at Tankers / ship anchorage, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 16.0; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Tankers / ship anchorage when marks stop holding near RM 16.0.

Why this move

During high slack from 7:18 AM - 8:48 AM, center on Tankers / ship anchorage near RM 16.0, with Shipwreck / rest area as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 5.4 ft exchange.

8:48 AM - 11:59 AM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 15.2

Gear

During 8:48 AM - 11:59 AM at Tankers / ship anchorage, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 15.2; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Tankers / ship anchorage when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 15.2.

Why this move

From 8:48 AM - 11:59 AM on the ebb (outgoing), work Tankers / ship anchorage near RM 15.2, with Astoria-Megler Bridge as the nearby option. On this 5.4 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.

11:59 AM - 1:29 PM

Low slack

RM 12.1

Gear

During 11:59 AM - 1:29 PM at Church Hole / Red Roof, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 12.1; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Hold near Church Hole / Red Roof, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 12.1.

Why this move

During low slack from 11:59 AM - 1:29 PM, reset around Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.1, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 5.4 ft exchange.

1:29 PM - 5:46 PM

Flood (incoming)

RM 12.2

Gear

During 1:29 PM - 5:46 PM at Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 12.2; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 12.2.

Why this move

From 1:29 PM - 5:46 PM on the flood (incoming), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.2, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. This 5.4 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

5:46 PM - 7:16 PM

High slack

RM 16.0

Gear

During 5:46 PM - 7:16 PM at Tankers / ship anchorage, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 16.0; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Tankers / ship anchorage when marks stop holding near RM 16.0.

Why this move

During high slack from 5:46 PM - 7:16 PM, center on Tankers / ship anchorage near RM 16.0, with Shipwreck / rest area as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 5.4 ft exchange.

7:16 PM - 9:00 PM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 15.2

Gear

During 7:16 PM - 9:00 PM at Tankers / ship anchorage, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 15.2; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Tankers / ship anchorage when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 15.2.

Why this move

From 7:16 PM - 9:00 PM on the ebb (outgoing), work Tankers / ship anchorage near RM 15.2, with Astoria-Megler Bridge as the nearby option. On this 5.4 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.